Is April a good month for a Marathon?
It is the fullest month of the year for the Marathon. April carries 71 of them, more than any other month, so you get the widest choice of dates, locations and course types without having to travel far for one.
Race calendar · April 2027
Marathons in April 2027
71 marathons across the US in April 2027, sorted by date. Which weekends are busiest, what the fields actually run, entry fees, and where each one starts.
April is prime marathon season across much of the United States. Winter training blocks wrap up right on schedule, daylight is long enough for early morning long runs, and temperatures in the mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Pacific Coast have settled into the kind of conditions that make a 26.2 feel possible.
Spring weather is never a guarantee, though. Fronts move fast in April, and a warm week can flip to cold winds or rain by race morning. The Southeast can already feel genuinely hot late in the month, which changes pacing and hydration strategy in ways a runner who trained in cooler weather may not be ready for.
April marathons spread across the whole country and across every weekend of the month, so finding one that fits your schedule is straightforward. What takes more thought is matching the course to your goal, whether that is a fast, flat route or a marquee event with a charged atmosphere.
What the field actually runs
April Marathons, By the Numbers
4:28:20Median finish time
2:43:29Median winning time
104Median field size
41April marathons with published results
How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Nov 12, 2026.
When in April
The April Race Weekends
Marathons are not spread evenly across April. Here is how the calendar actually falls, weekend by weekend, which is the part worth knowing before you book a trip or plan a taper around one.
By the numbers
The Biggest Field
The largest field of any April Marathon, from the most recent published results.
April Marathons by State
California 7Ohio 4Virginia 4Wisconsin 4Florida 3Iowa 3North Carolina 3Oklahoma 3Pennsylvania 3Washington 3Delaware 2Indiana 2Kansas 2Kentucky 2Massachusetts 2Michigan 2Nevada 2New York 2Oregon 2South Carolina 2Tennessee 2Alaska 1Georgia 1Maryland 1Minnesota 1Missouri 1Nebraska 1New Jersey 1New Mexico 1Rhode Island 1Texas 1Utah 1West Virginia 1
Marathons by City in April
The Next Marathons in April
71 total Thu, Apr 1, 2027Coast Guard Marathon Elizabeth City, NCFrom $130Details Sat, Apr 3, 2027Salisbury Marathon/Salisbury Half Marathon/5K Salisbury, MDFrom $95Details Sat, Apr 3, 2027St. Louis Marathon St. Louis, MOFrom $125Details Sat, Apr 3, 2027ALBUQUERQUE MARATHON + HALF MARATHON, 10K, 5K AND KIDS K Albuquerque, NMFrom $125Details Sat, Apr 3, 2027Bedrock Valley Trail Runs Hemet, CAFrom $115Details Sat, Apr 3, 2027Two Rivers Marathon Race Festival: Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and 5K Lackawaxen, PAFrom $90Details Sat, Apr 3, 2027VICTORY RACES - Marathon, Half, and 5K Hillsdale, INFrom $65Details Sat, Apr 3, 2027Yakima River Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon Yakima, WAFrom $85Details Sat, Apr 3, 2027Bunny 5K, 10K, 13.1M & 26.2M at Stillwater, OK (14) Stillwater, OKFrom $95Details Sat, Apr 3, 2027Andy Payne Rt 66 Marathon, 1/2 Marathon, 5K, Fun Run and Virtual Run Claremore, OKFrom $135Details Sat, Apr 3, 2027Orlando 50K, Marathon, Half, 10K & 5K Orlando, FLFrom $75Details Sat, Apr 3, 2027Déjà Vu Las Vegas, NVFrom $70Details
Common Questions About Running an April Marathon
What should I wear for an April marathon?
Dress for the first mile, not the finish, and expect to shed a layer. A lightweight long-sleeve or arm warmers over a singlet covers the cool start in northern cities while giving you something to tie off later. In the South or Southwest, skip the extra layer entirely and plan your water intake from mile one.
Is April a good month to run a Boston Qualifier?
It can be, if you pick the right course. April has point-to-point and net-downhill routes alongside hilly options, so the course profile matters more than the month itself. Weigh the elevation chart carefully before you register, and confirm the course is certified for qualifier purposes.
How far ahead should I start training for an April marathon?
A standard marathon build runs roughly sixteen weeks, which puts the start of a serious training block in late December or early January. That means your long runs land through February and March, some of the coldest and most unpredictable weeks of the year in much of the country, so factor that into your plan.
Are April marathons worth traveling for?
April is a reasonable month to travel because the weather window is wide, flights and hotels are not as compressed as peak summer or fall weekends, and many races sit inside a larger festival weekend that includes shorter distances for family or friends who are not running the full 26.2.
When in April are most marathons held?
The busiest weekend is April 24 and April 25, with 19 of them, 11 of those on Saturday, April 24. Another 3 fall on a weekday, which is worth knowing if you are traveling for one.
What is a good Marathon time?
Across the 41 of these April marathons with published results from past editions, the median finisher ran 4:28:20, and the median winning time was 2:43:29. So anything under 4:28:20 puts you in the faster half of a typical field. That is the middle of these RunSignup fields, walkers and charity entrants included, not a national average.
How big is a typical April Marathon field?
The median one finished 104 runners, across the 41 of these April marathons with published results from past editions. Most are far smaller than the big-city events people picture, which means less crowding at the start and a friendlier field, with a last recorded finisher at 6:51:59.
Which states have the most April marathons?
California has 7, Ohio has 4, Virginia has 4, Wisconsin has 4, Florida has 3. If you are willing to travel, those are the states where an April weekend gives you the most to choose from.
Are there trail marathons in April?
Yes, 6 races around the United States get you off the pavement: 6 are trail races.